About Marco

The Protestant Reformation: 500 Years Later

“October 31, 2017, marked the 500-year anniversary of the German Reformation,” says Robert Bast, associate professor in the Department of History. “In events that took place on campus and in the community, Marco scholars helped to reassess fascinating, flawed, and charismatic Martin Luther, exploring the reformer’s impact on theology, language, music, gender relations, and anti-Semitism.”

To commemorate this key historical moment, Stefanie Ohnesorg, associate professor of German, brought to campus a traveling exhibit, #HereIStand: Martin Luther, the Reformation and its Consequences, curated by the Goethe-Zentrum Atlanta. The exhibit delved into the time prior to the Reformation, the biography of Martin Luther, and the context and dynamics of the movement that unfolded after Luther’s posting of his 95 theses.

The culminating event of the exhibit was a panel discussion with faculty members from across the UT humanities departments, including Marco professors Bast, Ohnesorg, and Tina Shepardson, professor of religious studies. They highlighted various aspects of Luther’s work, influence, and legacy. The UT Letterpress Studio added to the event by demonstrating how early modern shop printing actually worked.

Learn more about these events, including links to the digital version of the exhibit, at mfll.utk.edu/luther.